Lifting apparatus



Dec. 22, 1953 B. JOHNSTON ETAL LIFTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 23. 1949 D -22,1953 B. JOHNSTON Em 2,663 285 LIFTING APPARATUS Dec; 22, 1953 B. JOHNSTON ETAL LIFTING APPARATUS Filed April 25. 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR5 Ill/M. JdfiMffd/V Jay/v a/vnio/y MYM x x x ala INDIA E75 Dec. 22, 1953 B. JOHNSTON EIAL LIFTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 23, 1949 Dec. 22, 1953 B. JOHNSTON ETAL LIFTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 23. 1949 INVENTOR5 F/. 7 amm- JU/f/Vifd/V mm Mia/v Patented Dec. 22, 1953 UNITED I A PATENT" OFFICE g V LIFTING APPARATUS A BlaineJohnston,Pasadena, and John Mason... Bellflower, vCalif; said Johnston assign'or,by.f nesne assignmentato said Mason s a Application'April 23, 1949, Serial No.189,327

Thisinvention relates toian hydraulic device of the type including a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, and a wire line or cable'operated by the piston. More particularly, it relates to well drilling rig' operations may becarriedout by means of hydraulically operable cylinders and pistons. cable operatedby the piston is sealed by means of a plurality of nestable or telescoping tubes,

As there. set forth, the wire. line or.

12'Claims. (01.12l-46) 1 one of which is fixed to one end .ofthe. cylinder and another to the piston, th'ere'being any de sired number of intermediate tubes and the seve eral tubes being slidably engageable one:.within another so as to provide an effectiveseal for the cable and at the same'time to allow a long stroke of the piston.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved hydraulically operable device of the character described.--'

It is a particular object of. the:invention to provide an hydraulically operable'device of the character described, including a cylindena piston reciprocable thereinand a plurality, of neste able or telescoping tubes .for sealing the .wire line operated by the piston.

It is a particular object ofthe invention to provide improved sealing meansfor wire cables operated by pistons in the. manner described.

It is a further particular object of the invention'to provide improved.,means for supplying fluid pressure to an hydraulic device-of .the char-;

acter described.

These and other objects of. the invention will :description and be apparent from the ensuing the appended claims.

Certain forms which the sume are. exemplified in thefollowing description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which: V Y 1 Figs. 1 and 2 are diagrammatic, vertical sectional views of one form. of hydraulic device of the invention, Fig. 1 showing-thepistonat the invention may as-. s

end of its down stroke and'the nestable sealing tubes intheir extended position, and Fig. 2

showing the piston at the endof its upstroke and the nestable tubes in collapsed or telescoped position. a

Figs. 3 and 4 are fragmentary, vertical sectional views, Fig. -;3 being taken through the lower portion and the intermediate portion of -the. hydraulic device, and Fig. ,4- being taken through the upper portion of the device. H I

Fig. 5 is a view,partly in elevation and partly in section, of the coupling means employed tocouple the'upper and'lower sections of themaincylinders. I

Fig. Gisa' fragmentary view-in vertical section through the coupling means of- Fig. 5, illustrate ing certain details thereof. e

Figs. 7 and 8 are views-similarto Figs. 3 and4, respectively, but illustrating a dilTerent embodiment of the invention. I Y Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs.-1 and 2,;the. hydraulic device is generally. designated as 10 and it comprises an upright cylinder ,including .upper and lower sections I 2=and l3 coupled at [4. A supply conduit I5 is provided for supplying hydraulic pres- =zsure to and bleedinghydraulic pressureufrom the cylinder and a piston' I6 is reciprocable within'the cylinder for the purpose of operating a wire line or cable I! which is led over sheaves. l8 and I9 and supports'a load 'at its other end; A liner is disposed-withinthe cylinder II and is spaced therefrom to provide-an annularpassage 26, and a plurality of collapsible or nestable tubes 21 and an air inlet 28 are also provided.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 5, the. coupling means [4, comprises a grooved ring or 1 nut which engages threads or cam members 36 formed on aflange 31 at the bottom of the upper section 12 of the cylinder. The ring 35 bears against a conical flange 38 formed on the lower'section I3, and lugs 39 formed on the lower. section are provided for limiting downward movement. of the ring when the sections are uncoupled. Clamping means 40 are providedfor securely clamping the upper and lower sections. together. It will be apparent, of. course, that other coupling meansmay be employed,-e.. g. an ordinary flange and bolt construction (not shown). r As illustrated in Fig. 5-the liner 25 is also sectional in construction, comprising upper andlower sections 25a,v and 25b, respectively. The upper section 25a is guided and centered intermediate its ends by means of an annular guide member 4! which also seals ofi the annular passage 26. Therebelow .a plurality of holes 42 are formed in the liner for passage of hydraulic fluid.

At its upper. end therliner :is guided and centered its lowerzend ztheenpper liner section 2 5;: ,is

threaded to a tubular connecting member 44 which is threaded at its lower end to a flange 45 which is fixed by means of cap screws 45 to lugs ll, which are spaced radially about and are welded to the inner surface of the upper cylinder 5 section 12. The lower liner section 252) is directly threadedfi! ufi tn e 48 whichis fix ed by means of-cap screws -48c.jto radially. spacedlugs 49, which are welded to'the lower cylinder section I3.

As best shown in Fig. 6, pilot means comprising a tongue 50 and a companion recess 5 l, 'for -med; q in the flanges 45 and 48, respectively, are provided for bringing the uppenand lower liner, secv V tions 25a and 251) into precise alignment, ,A sealing member 52 is provided for effecting a pressure-tight seal between the .upperandrlower-ecylinder sections I2 and I3. As also illustrated, pilot means for the upper and lower cylinder" sections is provided in the form of machined lugs 53 welded to and spacedradiallyabout-thelower--- end of the upper section I2 ofgthe-cylinden As shown in Fig. 3, the -gliner rests -upon-a-- basemember 54 and iscenteredand-g-uided by means -of an annulus BAa'f rmedas an integrals/i5 part of the base. A ru'bbenbumper-BE is fixed to the annulus fida, as shown, and is formed-with.- a centralpassage lifi which communicates with the-air pressure line 28. I-t will beapparent that the liner 25, although guidedand'supported at 30 top and bottom isfree tomove axially relatively to the cylinder ll, thus-allowing for difierent coeflicients of expansion of these membersp Referring ;to Fig; 4'. there is-clamped-to the upper end of thecy-linder by meanseotcapscrews '60, a crown block 6| having ace'ntral'opening 62. An air bleed passage 83 is formeda-t the upper end of the cylinder for communicating with air bleed lines '64, as illustrated. -A coupling member. 1. 65 is clamped in the opening 62 by means of a= spannernut 65 and a lock nutfl. ':A plurality of. stacked, annular rubber-cable wipers B8 are dis-.1 posed in a cylind-rical liner 1B and-are clamped" tightly in place betweenwashers H and. 12 by means of a nut 13. 5 The coupling memberxBEi is formed atits lower endwith a-flange M. having a 1 recess 15, a radial passage 16 communicating withtherecesslfi, and a depending lug I1.- The'innere. most member 18 of the nestable' tubes .21 is threaded at IE to the coupling-member 65. -Thew next or adjacent nestabletubeBBisthreaded at. 8! to a coupling member 82-whichis1threaded .at- 83 to a fiangeor head member 84. :uThehead. member 84 is formed with -aflange 85 havingaa: facing 85a of relativelysoft, -machined-alloy,= such as soft brass, the radiusot which is such;- as to form a close, sliding fit within the liner-15w The head member 84 is also-formed-with alug 91]- received within the recess 45 of the -coup1ing=- member 55, and it is; provided with a rubber bumper 9| disposed'in alignment with ;the de-rc pending lug H- of the coupling-member B5. The--= head member B4 is also provided with a pair-of oppositely disposed lip seals 92, seated in annular grooves 93, saidsealing members being in sealing engagement with the outer surface of. the innermostnestable tube 18. Vertical passages 94 are: formed in the flange 85. i

Each of the outer nestable tubes 96, 91, andq98j is similarly provided with a head .member 84. Howevergeach adjacent pair of these head meme. hers is provided with a-dash.pot.arrangeinent as illustrated, comprising a-recess 99 formed -in=on e of the head members and. a companion lugor plunger run formed in the underlying-head mem-J 5.

her. The outermost nestable tube 98 is threaded at H0 to the body or main casting H! of the piston 16. (See Fig. 3.) I'he casting Hi is formed with annular grooves H2 and with vertical passages llZa. A rubber sealing member H3 having lip seals H4 is vulcanized thereto. The cableoi; wire line H passes,,,thr ough arubber vibration dampener He andwa coupling; member or retainer H1, and a button H8 is fixed to the bottom of the cable for retaining the same with in a hollow chamber H9 formed in the casting IH:.;:;A bottom closure I20 is provided for the piston, being secured thereto as by means of cap scrwsJ-ZJ andgas illustrated, a rubber clamping pad; l 2;2 ;i s seatedat the bottom of the closure member I20. Each of the nestable tubes '58, 8t, 96 and;:.9.'l. improvided at its lower end with a flange L23 for a reason explained hereinafter. As also shown in Fig. 3, an annular member E23 is fixed to the piston IE. Such member is provided -with ra= softl alloy: facing-.-;l-2 5 1 and with verticalapassages. :l26;:irrfilhe :annular member 12 servesto; take :theeweightof 'the piston and lower end of the nestablertubeswhenthe cylinder is in horizontal position, .lthus apreventing deformation of the rubbensealingimember I I3.

The structureg thus 2* described operates as follows: To lift- 19f load, hydraulic pressure is mitted to the cylinder. :through conduit 1 5. The fluid passes; upwardly throughthe annular space 25 betweenpcylinder. ll :andaliner; Eithence through: openings; .42: into the liner -,and through passages. 94. in the flangesfiii to; the "piston IS. The-piston is-:thus :fOICEd down. The innermost nestable:tube. 1;8.; being fixed-.tothe upper end of the 'cylinder ,.-;remainsestationarw The other or outer nestablet tubes; eaves. 59,1 and 98 move downwardly "as -arunit.-.untilz-,the head member 84 of the ituberBflstrikesgbottomflange :23 on the innermost, -.-tube 3H3, :thus arresting further downward movement-.ottubetfil. *Then tubes a 91 and 98 continue their downwardmcvement as aunit .untiltubmfifibottoms on the flange 523 of tube etcq until-:the-rtubes are extended as shown in Fig. 1. Meanwhile; the cable i? will be pulled, thus lifting the load 28-, and the cable will .be effectively-sealed againstloss of pressure. The :wipersfiS: effectively prevent entry of dust. It wilLbenotedthat the tubes 21 are not in actual sliding contact. with' -each-.other :except at th annular sealing membersBZ; :aThus, undue friction .is. avoided,- but. because of the multiplicity of and-overlapping relation=ofi the tubeslandtheir sealing members lossior pressure is. effectively avoided.

The dash pot arrangementiseeffective to pre- I ventsshock s and 1 resultant .noise sand-i damage.

when the tubes are telescoped. Theiemployment of aliner,= and of: an annular "passagetior flow of fluid, is advantageous-because. it simplifies hydraulic connections and strengthensethe structure. Thus; fluid can-be admitted-and drained from-a point near the' bottom,thus ':.obviating the necessity of piping fluidtolthetcp of the cylinder.

This is of considerable importance: in practice,

wherein :a foot onslonger. cylinder may be used. A greatadvantageds derived. from .theuse of a liner in-thatz sitg obviates athewnecessityaoi machining thecylinder-re'rhe structuresdescribed-may be of great heig-htrand;diameten-and may be used as aamai rsstructura .adzsuppq iineleme t f a portableiderric bviqus x; su hara case:

the cylinder must b of rugged construction, and j mach ning-the int r-lo r b eeyl i ert o m-a slidin sea insuflt; wi h1tbecris qnswpuldeh cee dingly expensive. Also, in'such event, damage to the-cylinderwouldbe likely, to hamper or.

make impossiblev further; operation of the. piston, until the damage'is repaired. Employmentflof a liner obviates thesediffichltiedah'd since the liner an alloy of" aluminum.

A-further advantage results from iiuse of the flanges 84and their facings 8561. j Thus; it"is' only these members which are in sliding contact with the liner 25, and as stated the facings'sfiriarecom structed of. soft brass, and fare. accurately may chined surface is of very smallarea,andbeca se,

of the soft alloy, wear'ontheilinfer'is minimized. Further operation of .thelstructurej described" sure in the cylinder is held 0' s a load pressure. is bled from the cylinder.

appended claims.

the tubes 21. telescope, theQdaSliI pot arrangement,

will effectively prevent's'hocklf The structure thus described' is teale115} adapted for cylindersoflargediameter and con siderable height.

In Figs. 7 and 8, there is illustrateda somewhat j simpler but generally similar hydraulic device 7 which is better adapted to cylinders ofsmaller diameter and length.

Referring to these'flg'ur's, the structure is gentend to the top of the cylinder. Instead, guides- I 32a are provided-which are spaced radially about and are bolted to and centered-in the cylinder as shown. Itwill also be noted that the liner I32 is fixed to-the bottom of the cylinder at I52.

The nestable tubes I35 comprise an innermost tube I36 fixed to the upper end {of the cylinder intermediate nestable tubes I31, I38, and an outermost nestable tube I39 fixed to the piston. The upper'end of the cylinder I 3i, is closed by means of a cover I40 fixed thereto as by means of cap screws MI and having a central opening I42 in which a coupling member I43 is received. The coupling member M3 is clamped to the cylim' der by means of a spanner nut I 44. Annular rubber cable wipers I45 are provided, being received in a retainer I 46 and clamped in place by a nut I41 and washer I48. The coupling member I43 is formed with a recess I49 in which a rubber bumper I5!) is received and which also forms a dash pot for receiving a plunger I5I formed on the head member or top flange I80 of the adjacent nestable tube I31. The flange I60 is formed with a vertical passage IBI and it is threaded to the upper end of a coupling member I62 which is threaded, at its lower end, to the tube itself. Lip seals I 63 are provided, as illustrated.

The other nestable tubes I38 and I39 are similarly constructed and equipped. However, each adjacent pair of movable tubes is provided with a dash pot I64 and/or a plunger I65 and, instead of having a continuous flange, the tubes I38 and I39 are provided with spaced, radial lugs I66 which are machined and are of a radius, to form a close, sliding fit with the liner I32. The construction of piston I32 is generally similar to that of Fig. 3 and requires no further descripcable.

tlon here. Similar Parts'alfe'numbered as m Fig. 3.

Operation of the structure of Figs. Sand 6 will be apparent from the above description and the operation of the apparatus of Figs. 3 and 4. It is thus apparent that a form of hydraulic apparatus has been provided,including a cylin- ,der, a piston reciprocable therein, a cable operated by the piston and means for sealing the Such apparatus effectively seals and operates the cable, and it embodies numerous improvements as detailed hereinabove.

While we have shown thepreferred forms of our invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. An hydraulic device of the character described comprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable therein, a cable fixed'at one end to and operated by said piston, said'cable passing through one end of said cylinder, and a plurality of telescoping tubes for sheathing said cable including a flxed'tube fixed to 'saidjonejendof the cylin der' 'a'nd another tubelfixe'dj to'said piston, said tubes other than said fixed tube being each provided with annular guide means at one end to guide fthesame. in, said cylinder; 1

2; An hydraulic deviQebfthe character .describedfcomprising a cylinder, a piston reciprocable'therein, abablefixed at one end to said piston and operatedttherby and passing through oneend of saidfcylihderja'nd afplurality of telescoping tubes, for sheathing, said cable includingfatube .fixed to' 'said cylinder and another tube fixed tos'aid jpiSt msaid tubes including head members for' abutmentjwhen' the tubes are telescoped, anddash vpotgmeans for operation betweenadjacent tubesduringtelescoping of said tubes to prevent she r thereto.

3. Lifting ap aratu j ccmpjrisingz a rigid vertically. extending cylind a piston reciprocally disposed. in said cylindelq 'ja'n elongated forcetransferelement secured to'jsaid piston, said element extending through oneLend of said cylinder soa's'to be'jsecurable toa'load; and, telescoping tube means for sheathing said element, including a fixed tube rigidly secured to said one end of said cylinder and another tube rigidly secured to said piston, said tube means each being provided with annular guide means engaged with the inner surface of said cylinder.

4. Lifting apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said cylinder is formed. with means permitting ingress and egress of fluid into said cylinder, ingress of said fluid forcing said piston toward said one end of said cylinder so as to raise said load, and egress of said fluid permitting said piston to be moved away from said one end of said cylinder.

5. Lifting apparatus, comprising: a rigid vertically extending cylinder; a tubular liner concentrically positioned within said cylinder; a piston reciprocally disposed in said liner; an

elongated force-transfer element secured to said piston, said element extending through one end of said cylinder so as to be securable to a load; and, telescoping tube means for sheathing said element, including a fixed tube rigidly secured to said one of said cylinder and another tube rigidly secured to said piston, said tube means each being provided with annular guide means engaged with.,.the .inner surface of said.v

liner.

toward said one end-of said linerso as to raise said load, andegress. of said,,.fiuid permitting said piston to be moved away from said one.

end of said liner.

7. Lifting apparatumcomprisingz, a rigid vertically extending .cylindeliia piston reciprocally,

disposed in said cylinder; an elongated forcetransfer element. secured, to said piston, said element extending through oneend of said cylin der so as to be securableto. aloadga plurality of telescoping -tube,means.,for sheathing said flexible element, including a fixed tuberigidly secured to said .one end of said-cylinder and another tube rigidly secured to said piston; annular guide means formed on saidtube means having a sliding engagement withthe inner surface of said cylinder; and,. dashpot. means interposed between adjacent tube.,means ,to prevent shock thereto when said tube meansaretelescoped ,to-

gether.

8. Lifting apparatuses set ,forth, in claim 7 wherein said cylinder is formed with means permitting ingress and egress .of fluid into said cylinder, ingress of saidfiuid .forcingsaid piston toward said one endof said cylinder so as to raise said load, and egress of said fluid permitting said piston to be moved away from said one end of said cylinder, saidtube means being telescoped together as said piston is somoved.

9. Lifting apparatus, comprising: a rigid vertically extending cylinder; a tubular liner concentrically positioned within, said cylinder; a piston reciprocally disposed in said liner; an elongated force-transfer element secured to said piston, said element extending through one end of saidcylinder so as, to be securable to a load; a plurality of telescoping tubemeans for sheathing said flexibleelement, including afixed tube rigidly secured to saidoneend of said cylinder and another tube rigidly secured to said piston; annular guide meansformed on said tube means having a sliding engagement with the inner surface of said liner; and, a .dashpot means interposed between adjacent tube means to prevent shockthereto ,whensaid ,tube means are .telescoped together;

10. Liftingapparatus as set forth in claim 9 whereinsaid cylinder and liner are formed with means permitting ingress and egress of fluid into said liner, ingress of said fluid forcing said piston away from said onezend of said cylinder so as to raise said load, and egress of said fluid permitting said piston to be moved away from said one endof said cylinder within .said liner, said tube meansv beingv telescoped together as said piston is so moved.

11. Lifting apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein said, dashpot means includes an axially extending coaxial, annular projection formed on the end of one tube anda coaxial annular cavity formed, on the proximate end of the tube adjacent said. one tube for receiving said projection, saidcavity being of reduced diameter at its end remote from said one tube.

12. Lifting apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein said dash potmeans includes an axially extending coaxial annular projection formed on the end of. one tube and a coaxial annular cavity formed on the proximate end of the tube adjacent said one tube for receiving said projection, said cavity being of reduced diameter at its end remotefrom said one tube.

BLAINE JOHNSTON. JOHN C. MASON.

References Cited. in the fileof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,585,175 Steele May 18, 1926 1,612,226 Sheldon Dec. 28, 1926 1,756,910 Fuller Apr., 9, 1930 2,172,117 Beaufort et a1 Sept. 5, 1939 2,220,068 Eckardt Nov. 5, 1940 2,240,794 Mason May 6, 1941 2,246,535 Playfair June 24, 1941 2,259,432 Failing et a1. Oct. 14, 1941 2,285,742 Miller June 9, 1942 2,308,761 Komph Jan. 19, 1943 2,366,121 Hurst Dec. 26, 1944 ,432, 9 Rappl Dec. 16, 1947 2,451,089 Hunter Oct. 12, 1948 2,487,920 Celenza. Nov. 15, 1949 

